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justifiable as a result of necessary economic or social development. However, existing instream uses shall be maintained and protected. No water quality degradation is allowable which would interfere with or become injurious to existing instream uses." However, adoption of Alternative A would forego both the opportunity to increase public recognition of the national significance of NRA waters, and the possibility of preventing exceptions to the existing standards in specified areas based on " National Resource Water" status. Alternative B: Seek designation of Lake Powell and other recreation area waters as Outstanding National Resource Waters ( preferred alternative) Under this alternative, watersheds and the lake would be evaluated for outstanding recreational and/ or ecological significance, in consultation with state officials, and nominated for formal designation under state programs. Applying for the most protective water quality classifications would serve to enhance the public's recognition of the national significance of the waters within Lake Powell and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and provide a review of specific watershed areas to determine the need for additional protection. In no case would designation require higher quality water than currently exists; the effect of any designation would be to limit exceptions to the existing water quality standards. Proposed developments outside the recreation area may require more stringent review for their potential effect on NRA water resources. Designation would not adversely affect grazing or mineral leasing in the recreation area, since existing regulation and policy already prohibit water contamination from these activities. The National Park Service would investigate the feasibility of seeking designations for tributary streams within the recreation area as conditions dictate. The portion of the free- flowing San Juan River that is within the recreation area would appear to be an ideal candidate for study because of its intensive use by river runners and its overall recreational significance. The Escalante River, a favorite area of hikers and a portion of which has been designated as an Outstanding Natural Area by the Bureau of Land Management, would appear to be another such candidate because of its unusual ecological and recreational significance. As part of this alternative, and in conjunction with efforts by NPS to have Lake Powell designated as an anti- degradation segment by the State of Utah, the park would prepare the revisions requested by the State of Arizona in its application for status as " Unique Waters of Exceptional Recreational and Ecological Significance." 111. A. 3. Recommended course of action. As a unit of the National Park Service dedicated to water- oriented recreational use and conservation, 22